Chapter 379: Not Listening, Not Listening, You're Just Babbling!
Yao Chen, ready for battle, stood his ground as the leaders of the Cloud Rain Sect, Heaven's Underworld Sect, and Soul Hall looked on with grim expressions.
This old, undead relic of a Half Saint was not one to go down easily. If he decided to retaliate with everything he had, there was no guarantee they would walk away unscathed. This fight was bound to be grueling.
Yao Chen's eye twitched in frustration. It wasn't that he wanted to protect Lu Bu by not exposing him as the real culprit, but what would be the point of telling the truth?
The three factions had already brought their armies to his doorstep. They had the upper hand and were acting high and mighty. Could he really just say, "I'm not the one who killed your people it was that brat Lu Bu!" and expect them to pack up and leave?
Absolutely not.
Besides, Yao Chen had long standing grudges with the Scorpion Demon Trio. Both sides would rather see each other dead. If he encountered them elsewhere, Yao Chen wouldn't hesitate to obliterate them without mercy.
The Scorpion Demon Trio felt the same way about him. With the advantage on their side now, why would they spare him?
As for the Soul Hall, there was no need to explain. The grievances between Yao Chen and the Soul Hall could not be resolved even in three days and three nights. He wished for nothing more than the total annihilation of the Soul Hall, and they were equally determined to exterminate him.
As for Heaven's Underworld Sect, they harbored a deep grudge after Yao Chen thwarted their plans to control the Flower Sect.
None of these factions would ever let bygones be bygones, and even if Yao Chen named Lu Bu as the culprit, it was a pipe dream to think they'd withdraw.
"That damn brat!" Yao Chen's face twisted with fury at the thought of Lu Bu. Though he understood the situation, he couldn't help but feel like Lu Bu had set him up for disaster.
Of the three factions, Yao Chen wasn't afraid of two. He had the means and strength to deal with the Cloud Rain Sect and Heaven's Underworld Sect. But now?
Because of Lu Bu, all three factions had joined forces and were pressing down on him.
Yao Chen's body trembled with rage. He regretted sending Xiao Yan to the Magical Beast Mountain Range. If he hadn't, this catastrophe could've been avoided!
"Cackle, cackle… Yao Chen, it seems you have no intention of surrendering. In that case, prepare to die!" The Sky Scorpion's eyes flashed coldly as he barked an order.
"Kill him!"
"Slaughter the Falling Star Pavilion! Leave no one alive!"
At the shout, the Earth Scorpion's fists ignited with deep yellow flames. With a surge of energy, two fiery streaks shot toward Yao Chen, aiming for his head.
"Hmph, courting death…" Yao Chen scoffed coldly, ready to counter. But just as he was about to strike, an icy chill surged toward his vulnerable flank.
A chill ran down his spine, and Yao Chen's face changed. He instinctively pressed downward with his palm and swiftly retreated.
Only one person could coordinate so seamlessly with the Earth Scorpion none other than the Sky Scorpion.
Boom!
Frosty white cold energy collided with Yao Chen's fiery crimson flames, creating an explosive wave of ice and fire that swept out in all directions.
Before Yao Chen could catch his breath, the Earth Scorpion's fiery attacks roared forward again, leaving him little time to recover.
"Damn these bastards…" Yao Chen's face darkened as he realized the duo's relentless assaults left him no room to counterattack.
Worse yet, his injuries from prior battles hadn't fully healed.
"Cackle, cackle… Yao Chen, your death is inevitable!" The Sky Scorpion and Earth Scorpion taunted him as their frenzied attacks surged forward again.
Elsewhere on the battlefield, Elder Qiu Mao from the Pill Tower commanded a fiery beast to charge at the Blood River Heavenly Sovereign from the Soul Hall.
Qiu Mao's purpose for being here was clear to target the Soul Hall. As a key player in the Pill Tower's external operations, he was tasked with striking at the Soul Hall whenever possible. If he could eliminate this threat here, his next mission would be to support other battlefronts against the Soul Hall.
But that was a concern for the future. Surviving the present was no guarantee.
"Hmph… foolish old man!" The Blood River Heavenly Sovereign sneered. His hands moved in a flurry of seals, summoning a tide of blood red energy.
"Blood Transformation Technique!"
"Old fool, your soul is mine today!"
Elsewhere, the forces of the Falling Star Pavilion fought with their backs against the wall. Leaning on the protection of the Star Realm's formation, they struggled to fend off the attacks led by Tian Chen from Heaven's Underworld Sect.
But the situation was dire. Days of grueling battles had worn the pavilion's forces thin. The protective formation was on the verge of collapse, swaying as if it could break at any moment.
Whoosh, whoosh!
To the east of the Heavenly Star Mountain Range, two streaks of light one green and one silver streaked through the air before landing atop a peak.
"Ha! Xiao Yan, your Three Thousand Lightning Movement has improved quite a bit!" Lu Bu laughed heartily. Qing Lin, resting in his arms, chuckled softly as she glanced at Xiao Yan in the distance, who looked utterly exhausted.
The two dismounted their seventh tier serpent magical beast, which Qing Lin promptly retracted into her eye space with a flash of green light.
Nearby, Xiao Yan was leaning against a tree, panting heavily, his face flushed red. His chest heaved like a bellows, and he looked like he was about to collapse.
"You… you cheating bastard!" Xiao Yan roared in frustration.
Lu Bu had mocked him earlier for needing to run on foot. To prove himself, Xiao Yan had used his Three Thousand Lightning Movement to demonstrate his speed.
But Lu Bu, the shameless cheat, had fed his magical beast a speed enhancing pill and followed closely behind, just far enough to taunt him.
That wasn't the worst part. No matter how fast Xiao Yan ran, Lu Bu manipulated space to keep up with him effortlessly. It was the ultimate form of mockery.
"Damn it… one day, I'm getting a flying beast!" Xiao Yan thought bitterly. Why did he have to run himself into exhaustion while Lu Bu strolled leisurely with his wives in tow? It wasn't fair!
Suddenly, a massive surge of energy came from the direction of the Star Realm. Among the clashing forces, Xiao Yan recognized the distinct aura of his teacher, Yao Chen.
His expression changed instantly, and he prepared to rush to help.
"You're already half dead from exhaustion. What help can you possibly offer? Go there now, and you're just delivering yourself as cannon fodder," Lu Bu said, looking at him disdainfully.
Xiao Yan clenched his jaw but sat down cross legged, pulling out an eighth tier recovery pill and swallowing it. He began meditating to restore his energy.
"Qing Lin, you must be tired from controlling the magical beast, right?" Lu Bu smirked. "Come, let me massage you…"
"Master, I'm not tired… maybe let's change locations…" Qing Lin said shyly, her voice soft and hesitant.
"Sure thing!"
Xiao Yan: "…"
Not listening, not listening, you're just babbling nonsense!
Boom, boom, boom!
Above the Star Realm, fiery yellow, icy white, and crimson flames clashed violently as three figures darted through the air in a dazzling display of power.
The terrifying shockwaves from their battle swept outward, creating a no man's land spanning a thousand miles. Any fighter below the Half Saint level who dared to step foot there would be torn to shreds.
As space fractured and ominous black rifts opened, strange, icy winds drifted out, adding to the eerie atmosphere.
Yao Chen's expression was grim. The Blood Demon Flame burned fiercely in his palms, but he couldn't find an opening to overcome the Sky Scorpion and Earth Scorpion's relentless coordination. Meanwhile, the other battlefronts were nearing collapse.
Boom!
A vast storm of soul energy surged into the heavens, and an invisible pressure swept across the battlefield.
Yao Chen wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, his eyes glowing with a brilliant light like two radiant lanterns.
"What terrifying soul power!"
Among the three factions, the weakest leader, Tian from Heaven's Underworld Sect, turned pale. The oppressive sensation made him instinctively distance himself from both the Falling Star Pavilion and Yao Chen.
"This soul power... it must have already reached the Heavenly Realm!" Elder Qiu Mao from the Pill Tower gasped in shock. "As expected of Yao Zunzhe… no, Yao Shengzhe!"
The Four Heavenly Sovereigns of the Soul Hall said nothing but retreated several steps, their faces dark with caution. This level of soul power… even if the Second Heavenly Sovereign were here personally, he might not be able to take down Yao Chen.
Damn it, high ranking alchemists were truly difficult to kill or capture!
"Soul power? Hmph, do you think we don't have any?" Across from Yao Chen, the Earth Scorpion sneered. Closing his eyes briefly, he suddenly opened them wide.
Boom!
A torrential wave of soul energy erupted, a violent storm surging toward the sky.
Simultaneously, deep yellow flames spiraled upward, expanding into an endless sea of fire that stretched as far as the eye could see.
Yao Chen's expression grew heavy. Like himself, the Earth Scorpion was also a highly skilled alchemist an advanced eighth tier pinnacle alchemist!
This man's soul realm had likely reached its peak, capable of refining eighth tier nine colored pills with ease.
"Hehehe… Yao Chen, let's have another go!" The Sky Scorpion laughed coldly, forming seals with his hands. Frosty blue light flowed between his palms, and a bone chilling coldness instantly swept across the battlefield.
But before they could act, a powerful, violent energy fluctuation came from the distance. In the sky, a wolf's head wreathed in white, crimson, and deep blue flames roared toward them.
"Big brother, watch out!" the Earth Scorpion shouted. His soul senses were exceptionally keen, and he could feel the terrifying energy contained within the flames.
Boom!
A deafening explosion shattered the silence, shaking the Heavenly Star Mountain Range as though the entire region had been rocked to its core.
The Sky Scorpion grunted as he was forced backward, his icy gaze scanning the battlefield. Another powerhouse had arrived!?
A flash of silver light, and Xiao Yan appeared, supporting Yao Chen.
"You've grown stronger…" Yao Chen remarked, sensing the surging energy in Xiao Yan's body. His face lit up with satisfaction as he nodded approvingly.
"Your disciple was fortunate, Teacher. In the Heavenly Tomb, I received the ancestral bloodline inheritance," Xiao Yan said apologetically. "I'm sorry, Teacher. I came too late…"
"It's enough that you've returned, it's enough…" Yao Chen patted Xiao Yan on the shoulder, his eyes brimming with tears.
"He didn't arrive late; he just ran too fast, got exhausted, and rested out of sight," a voice suddenly interjected.
The space rippled, and Lu Bu's figure appeared, rolling his eyes dismissively.
Yao Chen's expression stiffened, his tearful gaze turning awkward. Should he let the tears fall? No, that felt wrong he'd lost the moment. But if he didn't let them fall… what now? He couldn't exactly suck them back in.
Beside Lu Bu, Qing Lin, her face veiled in gauze, bit her lip to hold back laughter. But this was too serious a moment laughing would be inappropriate, wouldn't it?
Xiao Yan glared at Lu Bu, his anger palpable. "You idiot, why do you always have to ruin the moment?"
Seizing the opportunity while Xiao Yan was distracted, Yao Chen took a deep breath and circulated his Dou Qi, discreetly evaporating his tears. His demeanor instantly reverted to that of a dignified sage calm, composed, and unruffled. He resumed his image as an otherworldly expert untouched by worldly affairs.
"Who dares interfere in our business? Are you courting death!?" The Sky Scorpion's murderous gaze swept over the three new arrivals, his voice sharp and cold.
The Earth Scorpion smirked coldly as well. "A single one star Dou Venerate and a… six star Dou Venerate? You dare meddle in our affairs?"
Though outwardly calm, the Earth Scorpion was wary. His gaze locked onto Lu Bu, whose strength he couldn't discern a sign that this pale faced youth was no ordinary fighter.
"Girl, stay out of this and go somewhere safe. Actually, try not to get involved anywhere else, either," Lu Bu said gently, brushing Qing Lin's hair.
"I understand, my lord…" Qing Lin responded with a soft smile. She lightly tapped her foot, her figure flashing toward the Star Realm's interior, where she landed near a group of Dou Kings and Dou Emperors.
"Yanran! I'm here to see you!" Qing Lin called out cheerfully.
"Qing Lin, you you're a Dou Venerate now?!" Nalan Yanran exclaimed, her face filled with shock and disbelief.
"Hehe…" Qing Lin replied with a playful giggle.
"Lu Bu, is that you?" Elder Qiu Mao from the Pill Tower exclaimed, his face lighting up with recognition.
Qiu Mao knew all about Lu Bu. This man was not only connected to the Gu Clan but also had ties to the Ancient Dragon Clan. With such powerful backers, even the Pill Tower's president wouldn't dare treat Lu Bu lightly.
However, Lu Bu was part of the Pill Tower's extended circle, so Qiu Mao regarded him with familiarity rather than fear. Still, he hadn't expected Lu Bu to show up here.
"A Pill Tower member?" The Blood River Heavenly Sovereign's gaze darkened. His expression grew even more severe as he realized that yet another helper had joined the Falling Star Pavilion.
"Lu Bu, join me in eliminating these Soul Hall scum!" Qiu Mao shouted. "Those bastards have repeatedly attacked the Pill Tower, causing heavy casualties!"
"Of course!" Lu Bu declared righteously. "The Soul Hall is evil! It's everyone's duty to destroy them. I will never stand idly by!"
Xiao Yan, standing off to the side, rolled his eyes. Back when no rewards were offered, Lu Bu's stance was anything but enthusiastic.
"Xiao Yan, you team up with Elder Qiu to take down the Soul Hall's Four Heavenly Sovereigns. I'll deal with the Earth Scorpion," Lu Bu commanded.
"Wait! What scheme are you cooking up this time?" Xiao Yan demanded. Lu Bu had never been one to take unnecessary risks. There had to be a reason he was choosing the stronger opponent. Was he eyeing the Earth Scorpion's wealth or treasures?
"Hmph, would you rather do it yourself? Or leave your teacher to keep fighting two opponents at once?" Lu Bu retorted with a cold sneer.
Xiao Yan's lips twitched in frustration. At his current level an eight star Dou Emperor, capable of briefly reaching one star Dou Venerate through his bloodline power taking on the Scorpion Demon Trio was suicide.
"Fine, do what you want!" Xiao Yan shouted, channeling his frustration into his fists. Forming seals with his hands, he unleashed a strike at the Soul Hall's Four Heavenly Sovereigns.
"Soul Hall scum, prepare to die!"
Roaring in anger, Xiao Yan transformed his frustration into fighting spirit and charged into battle.
"Cackle, cackle… Xiao Yan, you've got guts to come here and court death!"
"Blood River, don't forget about me!" Qiu Mao shouted, flames roaring around him as he unleashed his soul power and leapt back into the fray.
"Elder brother, you hold off Yao Chen. Once I've dealt with this brat, I'll come to help you!" the Earth Scorpion growled, flames spiraling around him. The intense heat twisted the air itself.
"Be careful. That pale faced boy might be more dangerous than he looks," the Sky Scorpion cautioned. He was confident he could handle the weakened Yao Chen, but he had a nagging feeling about Lu Bu.
"Don't worry. I know what to do."
Across from him, Lu Bu studied the Earth Scorpion with interest. A fellow alchemist… well, that made sense. In the original tale, the Scorpion Demon Trio frequently competed with Yao Chen, even presenting pills that Yao Chen, a Pill Saint, considered exorbitantly priced.
Eighth tier pills weren't something just anyone could produce. Without alchemy skills, the Scorpion Demon Trio couldn't possibly have amassed so many of them.
Now, Lu Bu's eyes gleamed with anticipation. Did this old scorpion have any dual cultivation pills? Or perhaps useful techniques?
The thought made his grin grow even wider, his gaze sharpening like a blade.
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